PATHOLOGY IN FOCUS Vol 6 Issue 1 February 2012 Message from the Chair One of my major our rapidly growing Division of complex data sets to continue to Inside this issue: goals in 2012 is to Informatics and further develop- fulfill the classic central role of Faculty Profile: Bailey 2 expand the capa- ment of our biorepository pro- determining diagnosis, prognosis, bilities of our gram. and appropriate therapy”. In part- Accolades 3 molecular diag- nership with UAB Medicine, we are Healthy Heart Month 3 nostics labora- Increasing attention is being fo- taking the necessary steps to en- tory. Multiple cused on the discipline of Pathol- sure that the UAB Department of Where are They Now? 4 Department of Pathology faculty ogy and the important role of pa- Pathology becomes a leader in From the Graduate Students 5 have been working closely with thologists in patient management. “next-generation” pathology and From the Chief Residents 6-7 UAB Hospital leadership to develop In a recent editorial (Arch. Pathol. that our patients derive the maxi- Pathology Grant Awards 8 a plan for new equipment, person- Lab. Med. 135:1531-1532; 2011), mum benefit from our initiatives. nel, and laboratory space to meet several Chairs of large academic

the growing demand for molecular Departments of Pathology stated Best wishes, testing in microbiology, oncology, “In a value-oriented care Kevin A. Roth, M.D., Ph.D. and hematology. These efforts system, the pathologists will then require thoughtful integration with become the integrator of large,

Faculty Profile: Hyunsoo Kim, Ph.D.

Dr. Hyunsoo pital in Boston. In 2009 he joined sion of Informatics in the Depart- Kim is an Assis- the Center for Systems and Com- ment of Pathology. This database is tant Professor putational Biology at the Wistar then the key resource to analyze Pathology In Focus in the Division Institute in Philadelphia, as a Staff new biological data obtained as a Editorial Committee of Informatics Scientist. There, he worked exten- part of collaborative work. For Editor-in-Chief: who arrived at sively with next generation se- example, one can better identify C. Bruce Alexander, M.D. UAB in November 2011 when the quencing data analysis, namely interesting candidates that are division was just implementing an RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, and small related with high impact biological R. Pat Bucy, M.D., Ph.D. informatics-driven personalized RNA-seq. Dr. Kim’s current work network components associated Rakesh Patel, Ph.D. medicine component in the Depart- aims to use next generation se- with specific diseases. Dr. Kim has Walter C. Bell, M.D. ment of Pathology. He is a bioinfor- quencing technology and informa- experience on The Genome Marisa B. Marques, M.D. matician and a computational bi- tion technology innovation to ad- Atlas (TCGA) project, and has a Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D. ologist who is interested in devel- vance to a new era of personalized particular interest in cancer diag- Angie Schmeckebier oping methodologies and algo- medicine and precision medicine nosis and treatment via computa- Margaret Dotzler rithms for finding new biological for better health care. Towards tional approaches handling per- facts, and analyzing genomics data this goal he first carefully aggre- sonal genomic data such as whole for helping biomedical research. gates biological knowledge building genome sequencing (WGS) data, Dept. of Pathology Website: He received his Ph.D. degree from a large database designed to take RNA-seq, and small RNA-seq data. www.path.uab.edu the University of Minnesota, Twin full advantage of knowledge inte- Although his earlier work was Cities, in 2004 and postdoctoral gration capabilities of semantic focused on brain tumors, i.e. Newsletter E-Mail: training at Georgia Tech. in Atlanta web technologies and resources, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), he [email protected] and at Brigham and Women’s Hos- some already in place at the Divi- Cont’d...

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Faculty Profile: Hyunsoo Kim, Ph.D., cont’d. is now extending this experience to (CCC), UAB Department of Com- computational cancer diagnosis other so that he can puter and Information Sciences. with individual patient’s genomic achieve a deeper understanding of Dr. Kim’s laboratory is also devel- profiles (whole genome sequenc- the genetic basis of cancer. To oping a service capability in (1) ing, RNA-seq, small RNA-seq). this end he is building collaborative next generation sequencing data connections and memberships with analysis (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center small RNA-seq), (2) preliminary

Faculty Profile: Shannon Bailey, Ph.D.

We are de- initiation, progression, and sever- process and is currently a full time lighted to ity of liver diseases and how liver member of the National Institute on welcome disease may impact risk for car- Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Ini- Shannon M. diovascular disease. Her studies tial Review Group AA-1, Biomedical Bailey, Ph.D., are focused on identifying a Research Review Subcommittee. as the newest mechanistic link between the se- Shannon is a member of the steer- member in verity of alcohol and obesity- ing committee for the UAB Center the Division of related fatty liver disease (i.e., for Free Radical Biology and has Molecular and steatohepatitis) and increased risk been active in the UAB School of Cellular Pathology effective Febru- for cardiovascular disease. Her Medicine strategic planning proc- ary 1st, 2012. Dr. Bailey received her work has contributed to under- ess as a member of the Oxidative Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the standing how disruption in nitric Stress and Mitochondria work- University of Oklahoma Health Sci- oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide group. She has also made sub- ences Center, College of Medicine (H2S) signaling, and changes in stantial contributions to graduate in 1996. Shannon completed her mitochondrial , contribute education at UAB and is currently Postdoctoral research in the labo- to various pathologies including Chair of the Pathobiology and Mo- ratory of Carol C. Cunningham in liver and cardiovascular disease lecular Medicine Curriculum Com- the Department of at as well as cancer. More recently, mittee. Shannon is also on the Wake Forest University School of in collaboration with Dr. Martin Editorial Board of several journals Medicine from 1996-1999. In 1999, Young in the Department of Medi- including Free Radical Biology & she was appointed Instructor in the cine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Liver International and Department of Biochemistry and in Disease and Dr. Karen L . Gamble, the Biochemical Journal. 2000 was promoted to Assistant Department of Psychiatry, Division Professor in the same department. of Behavioral Neurobiology, she Please join us in welcoming Shan- In 2001, Dr. Bailey moved her re- has also started to investigate the non to our department. search to UAB where she served as role of disruption of cellular cir- an Assistant Professor in the De- cadian rhythms in contributing to partment of Environmental Health liver disease. Sciences, School of Public Health until her promotion to Associate Shannon is currently Principal Professor in 2006. Investigator of two NIH R01 grants and one R21 grant and is co- Shannon’s research program ex- investigator on three other NIH plores how genetic, environmental, grants. She has also played an and life-style factors influence the active role in the NIH peer review Pathology In Focus Page 3

Accolades:

sory Council. Her term runs from Ralph Sanderson, Jill Adamski, M.D. 1/1/12 to 12/31/13. Ph.D. was appointed was appointed as a to the Graduate new member of the Hyunsoo Kim, Ph.D. Biomedical Sci- Faculty Advisory was appointed as a ences Steering and Council. Her term new member of the Oversight Commit- runs from 1/1/12 to 12/31/13. Faculty Advisory tee (GBS-SOC). This is a three Council. His term year term. runs from 1/1/12 to 12/31/13. Xu Feng, Ph.D. was Majd Zayzafoon, appointed as a new Ph.D. was ap- member of the Rakesh Patel, Ph.D. pointed as Scien- Faculty Advisory was appointed tist for the UAB Council. His term Associate Editor Nutrition Obesity runs from 1/1/12 to 12/31/13. for the American Research Center Journal of Physiol- (NORC). Andra Frost, M.D. ogy—Lung Cellular was appointed as a and Molecular . He was new member of also appointed as a Senior Scien- the Faculty Advi- tist for the UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC).

Remember… February is Heart Awareness Pathology Celebrates American Heart Month! Month!

Go Red……….

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Where Are They Now? Ana Stankovic, MD, PhD, MSPH

Dr. Ana K. Stank- group of 60 associates, and addi- Tennessee. She is the author of ovic received her tional groups in , Japan and numerous publications and is cur- residency training Europe. Her primary focus is on rently focusing her research on in Clinical Pathol- developing the medical/clinical improving the quality of laboratory ogy at UAB in 1995 strategy for the Preanalytical testing and increasing awareness -1998, and her fellowship training Systems business and overseeing of the impact of the preanalytical in Blood Banking and Transfusion various functional activities. She phase on clinical results. Dr Stank- Medicine from UAB in 1996-1997. also is responsible for Global BD ovic is a strong advocate for pa- She was Chief Resident Regional Medical Affairs. Her work tient safety in healthcare and a (Laboratory Medicine) in 1997-98. has given her the opportunity to champion for use of Lean and Six Dr. Stankovic also received a Mas- visit laboratories all over the Sigma methods to improve clinical ter of Science degree in Public world and experience the different laboratory processes. Health from UAB in 2001. Previ- healthcare systems, and interact ously, Dr Stankovic had received with many laboratory physicians Dr. Stankovic reports that her her MD degree in 1980 and a PhD and scientists. Her international favorite memory of her time in the in Immunology in 1986 from the work has confirmed for her the Pathology residency program was University of Belgrade in Yugosla- impact of the preanalytical phase the Residents Picnic in August of via. She then was a Senior Ful- on the overall quality of laboratory 1997 at Oak Mountain State Park, bright Scholar from 1988-1990 in testing. Dr. Stankovic’s primary and of Dr Alexander grilling in the the UAB Department of Clinical and goal is to assure that best prac- park on the massive grill that he Developmental Immunology, and a tices are created and dissemi- brought to the event. “It was so Postdoctoral Fellow from 1991- nated throughout the world, and much fun!” 1995 in the OBGYN Division of En- that cost-effective products are docrinology. developed that minimize the num- ber of preanalytical testing errors. Dr. Ana Stankovic lives in Basing After completing her graduate Ridge, New Jersey with her hus- medical training and MSPH degree Dr. Ana Stankovic is board certi- band, Dr. Srdjan R. Stankovic. at UAB, Dr. Stankovic moved to fied in Clinical Pathology and Blood Atlanta, Georgia where she served Banking/Transfusion Medicine by as Medical Officer at the Centers the American Board of Pathology. for Disease Control and Prevention During her residency, she won the from 1998-2003, giving her a ACLPS Young Investigator Award in unique perspective on laboratory 1996, 1997, and 1998. She is a quality at the national level. While member of the College of Ameri- at the CDC, she also worked as a can Pathologists, the Academy of hematopathologist at Quest Diag- Clinical Laboratory Physicians and nostics as well as a Consulting Scientists, the American Associa- Medical Director, Immucor, Inc., tion of Blood Banks, the American both in Atlanta. Medical Association, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, Dr Stankovic is currently the World and the Clinical Cytometry Society. Wide Vice President of Medical Affairs at Becton Dickinson (BD) Since 2009, she has held the ap- Diagnostics - Preanalytical Sys- pointment of Associate Clinical tems. She joined BD in New Jersey Professor in the Department of in 2003. Within the Preanalytical Pathology at Vanderbilt University Dr. Bruce Alexander grilling for 110 at the 1997 Residents’ Picnic Systems division, she oversees a School of Medicine in Nashville, at Oak Mountain State Park. Dr. Srdjan Stankovic is helping. Pathology In Focus Page 5

From the Graduate Students:

Accolades/Awards: Biology and Medicine 51:2007-2017. enhances lysosomal dysfunction- PMCID: PMC3208787 induced apoptotic death in malig- Joshua Baalwa—while working nant peripheral nerve sheath tu- with his mentor, has generated for Lee J, Giordano S, Zhang J (2012) mor cells. Neuro Oncol. 2012 Jan the first time a panel of transmit- Autophagy, redox signaling, oxida- 18. [Epub ahead of print] ted/founder HIV-1 subtype A, D and tive and nitrative stress. Bio- AD full length (9.7kbp) infectious chemical Journal. 441:523-540. Niroop also presented a poster molecular clones. These clones Review entitled "Analysis of gossypol- are the only ones of their kind induced cytotoxicity in malignant worldwide and will be used to elu- Angela Gullard—Angela’s abstract peripheral nerve sheath tumor cidate why HIV-1 subtype D infec- for the American Association for cells" at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Graduate Program Director: tion results in faster disease pro- Dental Research Annual Meeting International Conference on Mo- gression and is more neuropatho- (Tampa, FL; March 21-24, 2012) has lecular Targets and Cancer Thera- Rakesh Patel, Ph.D. genic compared to subtype A in- been selected for Oral Presenta- peutics in San Francisco, CA. fection. Each of these 12 clones tion. The title of her presentation Graduate Program Support: cost not less than USD 20,000.00 is “Altered TGF-β/BMP Signaling Lonnie Schneider—Jegga A, to generate and are in demand Associated with Radicular Dentin Schneider L, Ouyang X, Zhang J Cynthia Brown world-wide by HIV-1 scientists. A Dysplasia”. (2011) of the auto- paper describing the generation phagy-lysosomal pathway. Auto- 934-2848 and biology of these clones is be- Ashlee Higdon—has had two manu- phagy 7:5, 1-13. ing written and will form part of scripts accepted for publishing: 1. Joshua’s thesis work. “ Signaling by Reactive Lipid Liang Q, Ouyang X, Schneider L, Species: New Concepts and Mo- Zhang J (2011) Cathepsins reduce Publications/Presentations: lecular Mechanisms” in Biochemi- mutant huntingtin toxicity and cal Journal accepted for publica- aggregation. Molecular Neurode- Samantha Giordano—Dranka BP, tion December 2011 generation 6:37. Benavides GA, Diers AR, Giordano S, Zelickson BR, Reily C, Zou L, 2. “Hemin causes mitochondrial Schneider L, Giordano S, Zelick- Chatham J, Hill BG, Zhang J, Landar dysfunction in endothelial cells son BR, Johnson MA, Benavides GA, A, and Darley-Usmar VM (2011) through promoting lipid peroxida- Ouyang X, Fineberg N, Darley- Assessing bioenergetic function in tion: The protective role of auto- Usmar VM, Zhang J (2011) Differen- response to oxidative stress by phagy” accepted for publication in tiation of SH-SY5Y cells signifi- metabolic profiling. Free Radical American Journal of Physiology cantly changes mitochondrial bio- Biology and Medicine 51:1622-1635 (AJP) January 2012 energetics and the response to oxidative stress. Free Radical Schneider L, Giordano S, Zelickson Niroop Kaza—Kaza N, Kohli L, Roth Biology and Medicine 51:2007-2017. BR, Johnson MA, Benavides GA, KA. Autophagy in brain tumors: a Ouyang X, Fineberg N, Darley- new target for therapeutic inter- Usmar VM, Zhang J (2011) Differen- vention. Brain Pathol. 2012 Jan;22 tiation of SH-SY5Y cells signifi- (1):89-98. (Review) cantly changes mitochondrial bio- energetics and the response to Kohli L, Kaza N, Lavalley NJ, Turner oxidative stress. Free Radical KL, Byer S, Carroll SL, Roth KA. The pan erbB inhibitor PD168393 Pathology In Focus Page 6

From the Chief Residents:

As recruiting season is winding to a close, Amberly and I wanted to Zhiyong Ren/Rong Li: “Validation of take this opportunity to extend Transcriptionally Active HPV in Caitie Halverson: Pachydermodac- sincere gratitude to all residents, Salivary Mucoepidermoid Carcino- tyly: A Case Report” (Dr. Aleodor faculty, and staff who have as- mas” (Dr. Margaret Brandwein- Andea) sisted us during this very impor- Gensler) tant process. We are anticipating Chris Kragel: “Cutaneous Myoepi- a fruitful Match Day in March, with Zhiyong Ren: “Progesterone Re- thelioma and Mixed Dermal Duct yet another impressive group of ceptor and HER2 Status are Sig- Tumor: A Histologic Spectrum” (Dr. first year residents joining us in nificant Prognostic Factors in Aleodor Andea) July. Advanced Breast Cancer” (Drs. Emily Gorman and Gene Siegal and Shi Wei) Amberly Nunez ASFA Meeting 2012 Chief Residents, 2011-2012 Amy Treece: “Association of Iso- The Annual Meeting of the Ameri- lated Single Umbilical Artery with can Society for Apheresis will be Once again, UAB Pathology resi- Maternal Health and Placental held in Atlanta, GA April 11th-14th. dents continue to be actively in- Pathology: a Retrospective Study volved in research. Numerous of Over 6,500 Placentas” (Drs. Ona Evan Alston: “Parallel Leukaphere- residents authored and/or co- Faye-Petersen and Stephanie sis and Extracorporeal Membrane authored abstracts selected for Reilly) Oxygenation in a Patient with AML presentation at several national and Symptoms of Severe Pulmo- meetings. They are listed below Jie Xu/Qian Dai: “African Ameri- nary Leukostasis” (Dr. Jill Adam- with their faculty mentors. Great cans with Oropharyngeal Carci- ski) job and keep up the good work! noma: Decreased Transcription- ally Active High-Risk Human Jason Brazelton’s abstract titled USCAP Meeting 2012 Papillomavirus Contributes to “Are Elevated Cardiac Markers The and Canadian Poorer Survival” (Drs. Shantel Associated with Increased Mortal- Academy of Pathology Meeting will Herbert-Magee and Margaret ity in Patients with Thrombotic be held in Vancouver, British Co- Brandwein-Gensler) Thrombocytopenia Purpura? Was lumbia, Canada March 17th- 23rd. accepted for oral presentation as the number 1 presentation in the Taylor Deal: “The Prevalence of ISDP Meeting 2012 Plenary Abstract Session. (Drs. High-Risk HPV in Aerodigestive The Annual Joint Meeting of the Jill Adamski and Marisa Marques) and Lung Cancers in HIV+ Pa- International Society of Dermato- tients” (Dr. Margaret Brandwein- pathology will be held in San Diego, Matt Cain's abstract titled Gensler) CA March 14th-15th. "Removal of Plasma Free Hemoglo- bin by Therapeutic Plasma Ex- Chris Kragel: "Evaluation of MAP- Taylor Deal: “Comparison of Der- change in Patient with Anti-Jk3" Kinase Pathway in Sinonasal Mela- mal Spindle-Cell Counts in Nephro- has also been accepted for an oral nomas” (Drs. Patricia DeVilliers genic Systemic Fibrosis and Mim- presentation. (Drs. Jill Adamski and Aleodor Andea) icker Entities” (Dr. Aleodor Andea) and Marisa Marques)

Amberly Nunez: “EUS-FNA in the George Garib: “S-100 Positive Diagnosis of Pancreatic and Peri- Epithelioid Dermal Lesions: Is It Pancreatic Lymphoma” (Dr. Isam Melanoma or Not?” (Drs. Gene Eltoum) Siegal and Aleodor Andea) Cont’d…. Pathology In Focus Page 7

From the Chief Residents Cont’d:

ASCP Meeting 2011 social and our next outing will be The Annual Meeting of the Ameri- Sam Borak: Hematopathology, this month! I’m sure everyone is can Society for Clinical Pathology University of Alabama at Birming- waiting in anxious anticipation to was held in Las Vegas, NV, Octo- ham see where we will be dining next… ber 19th-22nd. Qian Dai: Hematopathology, Univer- Amy Treece: “The Incidence of Two sity of Alabama at Birmingham -Vessel Umbilical Cords and its Association with Other Fetal George Garib: Hematopathology, Anomalies: A Retrospective Study Penn State University, Hershey, PA of Over 12,000 Placentas” (Drs. Ona Faye-Petersen and Stephanie Emily Gorman: Forensic Pathology, Reilly) Emory University/Fulton County Residency Program Director: Medical Examiner, Atlanta, GA C. Bruce Alexander, M.D. CAP Residents Forum Rong Li: Neuropathology, Univer- Emily Gorman, and Chris Kragel sity of Alabama at Birmingham Residency Program Support: are attending the CAP Residents Forum in Vancouver, British Co- Amberly Nunez: Cytopathology, Karen Lewis lumbia, Canada, March 17th. University of Alabama at Birming- ham 934-4060

Resident Publications 2013-2014 Emily Gorman: Gorman EF, Bag AK, Palmer CA. Metastatic Heman- Frank Anderson: Hematopathology, gioblastoma: A Case Report. Brain University of Alabama at Birming- Pathology. In-Press. ham

Amberly Nunez: Nunez A, Siegal G, Emily Gorman: Pediatric Pathology, Reddy V, Wei S. CD138 Expression Children’s Boston, Harvard Univer- in Osteosarcoma. Am J Clin Pathol. sity, Boston, MA In-Press. Chris Kragel: Cytopathology, Duke University, Durham, NC Future Fellowships Check out what some of our resi- Thuy Nguyen: Surgical Pathology, dents will be up to after gradua- Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA tion… Zhiyong Ren: Surgical Pathology, 2012-2013 M.D. Anderson, Houston, TX Resident Socials Frank Anderson: Surgical Pathol- ogy, University of Kentucky at The residents continue to meet Lexington every few months for a resident Pathology In Focus Page 8

Pathology Grant Awards:

M. BRANDWEIN-GENSLER ZDENEK HEL CASEY WEAVER Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Re- NIH/Georgetown Univ. NIH search Foundation “Glycans in Hepatocellular Carci- “Factors Controlling Effector T Cell “Investigation of Adenoid Cystic noma (APRC-HCC and AIDS Supple- Maintenance in the Pathogenesis of Carcinoma and Transcriptionally ment) Colitis” Active Human Papillomavirus” $65,925 09/14/11-07/31/12 $1,593,190 9/20/11-07/31/16 $44,000 10/04/11-10/03/12 ROBINNA LORENZ CASEY WEAVER JOHN CHATHAM Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Crohns and Colitis Foundation of If anyone has any news items, UAB/CCC/UCDC America (CCFA) America (CCFA) accolades, etc. to be put in the “Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 “Altered Handling and Sensing of “Regulation of IL-22 Induction quarterly newsletter, please (STIM1): A Novel Regulator of Insu- Xenobiotics in Inflammatory Bowel From Th17 and non-Th17 CD4 T send it to the Path In Focus e- lin Secretion and Glucose Homeo- Disease” Cells” mail address at: stasis” $386,100 01/01/12-12/31/14 $156,880 01/01/12-12/31/15 [email protected]. $25,000 01/01/12-12/31/12 UPENDER MANNE CASEY WEAVER Thank you. YABING CHEN NIH/CCC Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of VA-IPA “Role of miR-21 and miR-106a in America (CCFA) Yong Sun Triple-Negative Breast Camcer “Mechanisms Controlling the De- $86,126 10/01/11-09/30/13 Aggressiveness” velopment and Function of IL-10- $100,000 09/01/11-08/31/13 Producing Intestinal Regulatory T YABING CHEN Cells” UAB/CCC/UCDC JOANNE MURPHY-ULLRICH $270,000 01/01/12-12/31/15 “Seed Funding in Glucose Homeo- American Heart Association (AHA) statis” “Calreticulin in Diabetic Vascular $25,000 01/01/12-12/31/12 Disease” $150,000 01/01/12-12/31/13 ROBERT HARDY Siemens MOON NAHM “Validation of the ADVIA Centaur NIH Tacrolimus Assay Using the ADVIA “Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens Centaur XP System” Reference Laboratory Support” $25,943 10/04/11-10/03/12 $250,400 01/01/12-12/31/12

SHANTEL HEBERT-MAGEE JOHN SHACKA Minority Health & Health Dispari- Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama ties Research Center (ACA) “Prognostic and Therapeutic Signi- “Regulating Clearance of Toxic fiance of P53 Codon 72 Polymor- Protein Species in Pre-Clinical phisms in Triple Negative Breast Models of Alzheimer’s Disease” Cancer in African-American $10,000 05/01/12-04/30/13 Women” $30,000 01/01/12-04/30/12